Magnificent Redhead

Isn't there something about the best of the redheads that makes them so glorious, ethereal and mesmirizing? It gave me something of a jolt when I realized that Ms Elson is a year younger and already a supermodel, rockstar wife, vintage boutique owner, mother of 2 kids and now, a recording artiste who actually (gasps) can sing and play...well.

Guess I can always, erm, pick up a musical instrument in a lame bid to catch up.

Beautiful single here.

(Top photo from LuLu, next 2 from Style.com and last pic from American Vogue)

love + love = much love

One of my favourite graphic artist reinterprets the DVD collection covers for one of my favourite film makers = instant lustworthy drool-inducing collectible! The Criterion Collection continues to up its cool factor.

(from here)

fantastic fox

There are the clothes to buy to capture a certain specific look influenced by what's showing out there on the catwalks. And then there are the labels to love for standing by a specific fashion sensibility and yet constantly developing it. All my favourite designers like Yohji and Dries fall in that category. Now add newish US label Stone Cold Fox. Formed by 2 lovely ladies, Fox professes to take its inspiration from the delicacy of vintage clothing, archaic gypsies and Jane Birkin. They've managed to craft their own unique aesthetic sense such that it is possible to identify a Stone Cold Fox gal on the basis of her clothing only, much like an Alex Wang chick. And the clothes are in a sense almost timeless and have high wardrobe staples potential. Lovely lovely!

Beautiful Girl

You know how certain nationalities have a certain look which is instantly recognizable. Hence some people often gets the "Are you Japanese/Korean/Scandinavian etc" queries?

Well french style is of course much admired and emulated but the attitude (as with flair) falls strictly in the category of either you have it or you don't.

Diane Birch could easily pass off as long lost daughter of Jane Birkin and hence half sister to Lou Dillon and Charlotte Gainsborg. But she's actually American, a great singer with a (seemingly) wonderful wardrobe to boot. Extremely quirky and chirpy video, check it out here.

Button Up and Petal Shorts

I am not a shorts person at all, as all my friends and family can attest to, but am suddenly in the mood for sheer shirts, shorts and flats. I want to say its spring and all its associations of lightness and breeze but I don't actually live in a place with seasons.

(Surface to Air Top, Rachel Comey Shorts, Marc Jacob Flats. All from LaGarconne)

cats and swallows

MiuMiu Spring/Summer 2010 is so whimsical, impractical, girly, pracically lolita-ish and really not suitable for anyone who actually has a desk bound day job and is not 18. And yet, I want! Sigh. It's either a sign of the allure of great design or an immature personality. Maybe both... :p (Right, that's a reaaall mature way to end off a post)


And really that's why I love beautiful shoes. Cos it's a great way to incorporate whimsy into one's wardrobe and anybody can inject some fun into an ensemble in this way and still not be laughed out of the office, I think (hope). Mulling over which pair to get....

(Illustration by the wonderfully talented Krisatomic and rest of pics were shamelessly filched from her post as well)

tender is the night

I don't like things to look too precious. The best kind of homes and furnishing are the ones that make you wish you knew the occupier owner and all their stories too.

The incredible home of the owners of Nightwood. Talk about being one's own best advertisment. Be inspired by the design and creation process here.

Claire, the moment I met you, I swear

In the words of Gilbert O' Sullivan, "Oh Claire, Claire...oh Claire."

I have a new obsession and her name is Claire Incorruptible.

My love for vintage is well documented in the bulging wardrobes at home. I remmeber buying my first ever piece of vintage clothing. Fittingly enough, it was in SF. In a cavernous space with racks packed to the brim and no shoppers around save for us. This was way back in the day before vintage entered every fashionista's lexicon and Carrie from SATC made vintage mainstream and hip. At the risk of sounding really mawkish and dramatic, it is an incredible high when one picks out an item and it fit perfectly, as though that dress has been hanging there all this way, waiting just for ME.

Now with vintage explosion of the past few years, it no longer is that difficult to find the outfits which fit, since there are tons of sellers out there trawling through estate sales and flea markets and hawking the results of their labour on ebay.

A more recent phenomenom is the increasing number of vintage web stores, probably contributed by the seemingly endless fascination with vintage and tediousness of dealing with ebay.

There are lots of really great vintage sites out there but if there is one complaint I have, it seems to be the general sameness of the wares on offer. I thought people turned to vintage as a way of dressing in a unique manner, to express a personal sensibility. But so many vintage sellers out there now seem to be scouting for and selling the same sort of look; namely vintage knock offs of what Kate Moss is all about this season and whatever the goddesses of high/street fashion in vogue /nylon tell us is in. Defeating the purpose I say?

But there are a couple of gems out there. And right now, my guilty pleasure is Claire Inc. An incredible emporium of vintage treasures which despite the volume of offering is clearly tightly curated and well thought out. No dressing the next chictopia rocker chick wannebe. Claire Inc specializes in truly unique, hard to scout pieces and lust worthly designer collectibles. Most of the items on offer are precisely the kind of vintage which never gets old and will always retain their appeal. Plus, how can one not love a store which sets out as its manifesto:

Claire Inc is a mighty force

Claire Inc cannot be defeated

Claire Inc has 20 x 20 vision

Claire Inc leaps shopping isles in a single bound

Claire Inc cannot be defined

Claire Inc fired Anna Wintour

Claire Inc is Incorruptible

But of course the rare and wonderful comes at a pretty penny. Surely worth it but my wallet's looking kindof empty now...

Tres Chic

The ballerina theme really seems to be taking off this season!

What a great video to put one in the mood for a spring road trip. Vanessa Bruno and Lou Dillon; potent chic combination.

Smoking Guns

Be a character in a Raymond Chandler novel, hanging out with Philip Marlow
International woman of mystery
Be a spy and solve mysteries, in the perfect trench with nary a hair out of place
Soft waves berry lips
Silk dresses sharp heels
Give me my own gun...actually just the Dior python detective briefcase with attached gun and holster will do, thanks!

(Dietrich, Bacall, Inimitable Gong Li in 2046, Charlotte Rampling in adaptation of Farewell, my Lovely, 17 years old (!) Karlie Kloss in Dior s/s 10 campaign, dream bag swoon)